During a cold night in Atlanta, a reception took place in Buckhead in honor of Delta Air Lines’ inaugural flight connecting Georgia’s capital city and the vibrant island of Barbados. Delta will have daily service from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport to Grantley Adams International Airport (BGI) in Bridgeport, Barbados.
Attendees were treated to excellent foods native to the Caribbean island and Bajan rum!
Barbados’ Minister of Tourism, Ian Gooding-Edghill, highlighted the country’s recent accolades, including winning the destination category at the Roots America’s Awards and being named the best culinary festival and national culinary team in the Caribbean.
“I must acknowledge that United States of America continues to be one of Barbados’s leading source markets,” said Gooding-Edghill. “Delta’s Director of International Special Sales announced the new service, which includes daily flights from Atlanta and Saturday flights from New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport with over 25,000 bookings already. The partnership aims to boost tourism and business connections, emphasizing Barbados’ culinary and cultural offerings.”
The move is beneficial for both sides
The Barbados Tourism board seeks to directly engage with the Barbados Association of Georgia and other diaspora organizations in Atlanta. They desire to promote the new direct flights and highlight the upcoming signature events and celebrations in Barbados in 2025. They believe this will help generate excitement and interest within the local community.
“It’s a beautiful thing,” exclaims actress and film producer Jacqueline King-Howell. “Before, I would have to go to New York or Miami to get to Barbados, so I’m very happy to have a direct flight. For me, it’s going home, but it’s also a really good escape. The people are amazing, the food is amazing, the culture is amazing. It’s not just tourism. There’s so much that Barbados has to offer, and I love that we celebrate all of our wins.”
Both sides believe it’s about strengthening the bond between the dynamic city of Atlanta and the serene paradise of Barbados.
“From Delta’s perspective, it’s a symbol of the strength of the market that we were able to jump in not just on Saturday, but daily non stop from Atlanta, in addition to Saturday service from JFK,” said Shane M. Spyak, Managing Director of International Sales
with Delta Air Lines. “So it’s very rare that a new market begins from multiple gateways. The first flight tomorrow is going to leave completely full.”
In the end, the tourism sector in Barbados loves to welcoming more visitors for paradise, for leisure, culinary experiences, sports and business. They believe this venture will help Barbados remain the top of mind destination for all American travelers.
“So having this event tonight and collaborating with Delta, I think it’s a beautiful thing,” says King-Howell. “It’s like two power houses coming together in a way that we’ve wanted, and now we have it. And more people get to experience Barbados and just get to see the beauty of the country on all levels.”
